Postby Loren » Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:41 pm
Okay, so we've got a date (May). I've got a co-chair (Jim). A car has been volunteered (Jeff's). The next big question is how to prepare the car.
We're not going out of our way to prepare the car because it doesn't really matter much. We'll all be driving the same car, so if it's crappy for one guy, it will be crappy for everyone else! Jeff may have new shocks on the car by May, or not. It may have a decent alignment, it may not. It will have an automatic transmission and just barely enough power to get out of its own way. Good.
Now, we do need to put tires on it, which brings with it a philosophical question. We're not gonna spend the bucks to put a good set of race tires on it, and we don't need to (see "same car" above). But, we were thinking about putting a set of cheap 14" Azenis on it. Something reasonable that would survive the abuse without complaint.
But, what if we put something a little less "good" on it? Something that might challenge the driver's ability to drive within the limit of the tires a bit more? Would still need to be something capable of surviving 80-100 runs or more, but something more like a 185 cheap "performance all-season" tire. (suddenly, Ron Rice has become a ringer!)
I can see the merit of that idea... but part of me wonders if that's going to raise the bar too high, especially for those who aren't used to driving something like a Miata.
So, what do you all think? Grippy tires or less-grippy tires? Easy to drive, or a little more challenging to drive? Bear in mind that more challenging to drive will apply to EVERYONE, as will "easy to drive"... much like autocrossing in the rain, less-grippy tires might just level the playing field and let true driving skill shine.
Loren Williams - Loren @ Invisiblesun.org
The "Push Harder, Suck Less" philosophy explained:
Push Harder - Drive as close to the limit of your tires as possible.
Suck Less - Drive something resembling a proper racing line.
